Mobile tree-processing machine

ABSTRACT

A mobile tree-processing machine which includes a platform pivotally mounted on a mobile undercarriage for slewing about a vertical axis and having one or more tree-processing units mounted thereon operative to delimb, debark and/or sever whole trees fed thereto by a boom-and-grapple assembly and propelled through the processing units by feed means consisting of driven feed rollers. The leading end of the processed tree, emerging from he last of the processing units, actuates a cutter mechanism severing selected lengths which are directed by a deflector assembly onto an off-feed conveyor assembly which conveys the processed logs in sequence from the machine, depositing such processed logs at a position removed from the machine onto a suitable supporting surface. The off-feed conveyor, in one instance, is attached to the platform on which the processing units are mounted, and in another instance is independently mounted on the undercarriage for pivotal movement about a vertical axis independent of pivotal movement of the processing assembly.

United States Patent Hamilton et a1. Feb. 15, 1972 [541 MOBILETREE-PROCESSING MACHINE 2,792,860 5/1957 Watkins ..144/208 R [72]Inventors: Douglas D. Hamilton, Mount Royal; gi g r Joseph J. R. BoivinMontreal both of 5 C nada 2,233,219 2/1941 Nlcholson ..l44/242 a2,891,589 6/1959 Lessler....... ...144/247 [731 Assignees: Canadianlntemal Paper Company; 2,780,253 2/1957 Joa ...144/246 Quebec NorthShore Paper Company, 2,934,112 4/1960 Valo ...144/208 Montreal; AbitibiSt. Anne Paper Ltd., 2,785,715 3/1957 Brundell et a1. ...l44/247Beaupre, Canada 3,356,116 12/1967 Brundell et a1. ..l44/32l Filed: May7, 1968 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [21] Appl. No.: 727,316 119,0344/1958 U.S.S.R. ..l44/3 Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost [30] ForeignApplication Priority Data Attorney jacobi, Lining & Siegel May 12, 1967Canada ..990,351

' [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. ..l44/309 AC, 144/3 A mobile treeprocessing machine which includes a platform [51] Int Cl Aolg 23202pivotally mounted on a mobile undercarriage for slewing [58] Fie'ld 3 34about a vertical axis and having one or more tree-processing 214/83 iunits mounted thereon operative to delimb, debark and/or sever wholetrees fed thereto by a boom-an'd-grapple assembly and propelled throughthe processing units by feed means con- [56] References Clted sisting ofdriven feed rollers. The leading end of the processed UNITED STATESPATENTS tree, emerging from he last of the processing units, actuates acutter mechanism severing selected lengths WhlCh are directed 2,418,7264/1947 Rogers ..2l4/83.26 by a deflector assembly onto an ff f dconveyor assembly 2,484,689 l0/1949 Davls which conveys the processedlogs in sequence from the 2,699,877 1 1955 Huston machine, depositingsuch processed logs ataposition removed 3,029,848 4/ 1962 B0m a dl6r---from the machine onto a suitable supporting surface. The off- 3,140,7367/ 1 964 P110115t feed conveyor, in one instance, is attached to theplatform on 3,236,274 2/1966 y f which the processing units are mounted,and in another in- 32881313 11/1966 Hamilton-n stance is independentlymounted on the undercarriage for 3 331 I f pivotal movement about avertical axis independent of pivotal Onge movement of the roeessinassembl 3,351,107 11/1967 Hamilton ....l44/2 p g y 3,385,331 5/1968Bronemo et al. 144/2 43 Claims, 39 Drawing Figures OVERRI SWITCH E W8SW? we 5% swe swz 5W5 CLEARING ROLL LOG MEASURING (SHEAR ACTUATOR Eng/ga /141515111 FEED DEBR/(ERI FEED SHEA/L 1000 500M ROLL ROLL FEED cooSET"! r00 T-2 900 4.00 e00 8B0 HANDLING UNIT SWMLZJ W000 PIL E D WOODSHEET UZUF 25' PATENTEDFEB 15 I972 PATENTED FEB I 5 I972 SHEET 038? 25mm 15 I972 3542.041

SHEET OSUF 25 FIG.G

PATENTEI] FEB 15 I972 SHEET GBUF 25 FIG. 8

PATENT-511M015 m2 3.642.041

SHEET U'IUF 25 FIG. IO

PATENTEBFEB 15 I972 SHEET UBUF 25 PATENTEUFEB 15 1912 SHEET CSUF 25PATENTEBFEB 15 m2 SHEET lOUF 25 FIG. l6

PAIENFEIJFEB 1 51972 SHEET llUF 25 PATENTEBFEB 1 5 ma 3.642.041

SHEET 12UF 25 PATENTEBFEBISISYZ 3.642.041

' SHEET lSUF 25 I III Fl G 2/ PAIENTEUFEB 1 5 m2 SHEET 1BUF 25 FIG. 22

PATENTfDFEB 15 nan SHEET 170F 25 PMENTEBFEB 15 m2 SHEET 180F 25PAIENIEDFEB 15 m2 3.642.041

' sum 1s or 25

1. A machine for processing trees comprising in combination: a. a firstsupport; b. a second support pivotally mounted on said first support topivot about a substantially vertical axis; c. tree-processing means, onsaid second support, including processing units to delimb, debark orsever a tree and having a discharge end from which a processed treelength is discharged and; d. a log-handling unit comprising a drivenconveyor carried by said first support and pivotally arranged inrelation thereto to pivot about a vertical axis to collect processedtree lengths discharged from the tree-processing means and convey thesame to a selected location removed from said machine.
 2. A machine asdefined in claim 1 wherein said first support comprises a movablecarrier.
 3. A machine as defined in claim 2 wherein carrier is aself-propelled mobile vehicle.
 4. A machine as defined in claim 3wherein said log-handling unit inclUdes a third frame secured to saidmachine and having a generally flat upper surface to receive processedlogs discharged from the processing units, a fourth frame pivotallysecured to said third frame for movement about a substantiallyhorizontal axis and projecting laterally from the normal path followedby a tree during processing thereof, a driven conveyor extendinglongitudinally of said fourth frame and means to pivot said fourth frameabout said horizontal axis selectively to raise and lower the end of theconveyor remote from the pivotal connection of the fourth frame to saidthird frame and thereby selectively vary the vertical position of thedischarge end of the conveyor.
 5. A machine as defined in claim 4wherein said fourth frame comprises pivotally interconnected memberseffectively defining a parallelogram of selectively variable angularorientation and said conveyor comprises a pair of endless beltlikemembers disposed respectively adjacent respective ones of a pair ofparallel members of said parallelogram and supported thereby.
 6. Amachine as defined in claim 5 including linkage means interrelatingpivotal movement of said second and fourth frame about their respectivevertical pivot axes in opposite directions with respect to one another.7. A machine as defined in claim 4 including further means pivotallyconnecting said fourth frame to said third frame for selected pivotalmovement about a vertical axis.
 8. A machine as defined in claim 3including means pivotally mounting said log-handling unit on said secondsupport for limited movement about a substantially vertical axis offsetfrom the vertical pivot axis of said second support.
 9. A processingmachine as defined in claim 3 wherein said log-handling unit comprisesin combination a conveyor and a log-deflecting means interposed betweensaid conveyor and the processing means.
 10. A processing machine asdefined in claim 9 wherein said conveyor extends in a directionprojecting laterally from a path normally followed by a tree duringprocessing thereof.
 11. A processing machine as defined in claim 3wherein said log-handling unit comprises in combination log-deflectingmeans and a driven conveyor.
 12. A processing machine as defined inclaim 11 further including at least one driven speedup roll locatedintermediate said processing means and the driven conveyor.
 13. Aprocessing machine as defined in claim 11 wherein said conveyorcomprises at least one endless-beltlike member having a plurality oflugs projecting therefrom engaging trees conveyed by said conveyor to aselected location.
 14. A machine as defined in claim 3 further includingin combination therewith at least one roller located between theprocessing means and said conveyor, said roller facilitating transfer ofthe processed trees discharged from the processing unit to a conveyorportion of the log-handling unit.
 15. A machine as defined in claim 14wherein said roller is driven.
 16. A machine as defined in claim 3wherein said driven conveyor is pivotally mounted to move about ahorizontal axis and means to controllably pivot the same about saidhorizontal axis selectively to vary the position of said discharge end.17 A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein on said first support andsaid conveyor pivot about a common vertical axis.
 18. A machine asdefined in claim 1 including means pivotally mounting said log-handlingunit on said first support for movement about a substantially verticalaxis, said pivot axis being common to the vertical pivot axis of saidsecond support and movable irrespective of pivotal movement of saidsecond support.
 19. A machine as defined in claim 1 including meanspivotally mounting said log-handling unit on said first support formovement about a substantially vertical axis, said pivot axis beingcommon to the vertical pivot axis of said second support, saidlog-handling unit including a log discharge end and means effectingpivotal movement of said discharge end iN response to pivotal movementof said second support and in a direction opposite thereto.
 20. Amachine as defined in claim 1 wherein said tree-processing meanscomprises at least two processing units adapted to performdifferent-processing operations on a tree, said processing units beingspaced longitudinally relative to one another along the path a treefollows in passing through the processing units during processingthereof.
 21. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein saidtree-processing means comprises at least a delimber and a shear spacedlongitudinally relative to one another along the path a tree follows inpassing through the processing units during processing thereof.
 22. Amachine as defined in claim 1 wherein said tree-severing devicecomprises a shear slidably mounted on said second support and meansselectively moving said shear along a path followed by the tree beingprocessed whereby the tree may be severed while moving continuouslyalong said path.
 23. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein saidprocessing means comprise processing units secured to a subframepivotally mounted on said second support to pivot about a substantiallyhorizontal axis.
 24. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein saidprocessing means comprise processing units individually secured tocommon rigid members pivotally mounted on said second support forlimited movement about a substantially horizontal axis.
 25. A processingmachine as defined in claim 1 wherein said log-handling unit comprisesin combination a conveyor and a log-deflecting means interposed betweensaid conveyor and the processing means wherein said tree-processingmeans comprises at least two processing units adapted to performdifferent processing operations on a tree, said processing units beingspaced longitudinally relative to one another along the path a treefollows in passing through the processing units during processingthereof.
 26. A processing machine as defined in claim 1 wherein saidlog-handling unit comprises in combination a conveyor and alog-deflecting means interposed between said conveyor and the processingmeans, said machine further including at least one driven speedup rolllocated intermediate said processing means and the driven conveyor. 27.A processing machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said conveyorconsists of a pair of endless-beltlike members disposed in substantiallyspaced-parallel relationship and each having a plurality of lugsprojecting therefrom engaging trees conveyed by said conveyor to theselected location.
 28. A processing machine as defined in claim 27wherein said endless-beltlike members consist of link chains.
 29. Aprocessing machine as defined in claim 27 wherein the lugs on oneendless-chainlike member are connected to respective ones of the lugs onthe other of the endless-chainlike members to provide, in effect, aseries of paddle wheels engageable with the processed trees beingconveyed to a selected location.
 30. A processing machine as defined inclaim 2 including a boom-and-grapple assembly mounted thereonselectively to engage a selected prefelled tree from a plurality ofprefelled trees and introduce said selected tree to said processingunits.
 31. A processing machine as defined in claim 30 including atleast one set of feed rolls selectively to feed in sequence trees to beprocessed through said processing means.
 32. A machine as defined inclaim 1 including log-measuring means effecting actuation of thetree-severing device to sever a tree being processed into selectedlengths.
 33. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said log-handlingunit comprises: a. a first frame assembly having a log-receiving uppersurface; b. a conveyor assembly pivotally secured to said frame formovement about a substantially horizontal axis, said conveyor assemblyextending laterally from said frame and comprising at least one drivenmember having spaced-apart log-engaging members movable to propel a logaway from said frame and discharge such log at a selected location; c.deflector means disposed normally in the path of a log discharged intothe log-handling unit to shift such log laterally toward the conveyorassembly; and d. means selectively to pivot said conveyor about itspivot axis to raise and lower the discharge end of the conveyor.
 34. Alog-handling unit as defined in claim 33 wherein said conveyor islaterally offset from the log-receiving upper surface of the frame. 35.A log-handling unit as defined in claim 33 wherein said deflectorincludes at least one member having a portion overlying thelog-receiving upper surface of the frame, said portion of the membersloping downwardly in a direction toward the conveyor assembly.
 36. Alog-handling unit as defined in claim 33 wherein said deflectorcomprises a further conveyor disposed in end-to-end relation with thefirst-mentioned conveyor, said further conveyor having spaced-apartlog-engaging members movable to propel a log from said frame onto saidfirst-mentioned conveyor.
 37. A log-handling unit as defined in claim33, further including a hopper assembly secured to said frame andextending vertically above said log-receiving upper surface.
 38. Alog-handling unit as defined in claim 33, including means to detachablysecure the same to a processing machine.
 39. A log-handling unit asdefined in claim 33 wherein said conveyor consists of at least oneendless-beltlike member having a plurality of lugs projecting therefrom.40. A log-handling unit as defined in claim 33 wherein said framecomprises a rigid longitudinally extending member and said conveyorconsists of two or more generally parallel spaced-apart endless-beltlikemembers extending in a direction substantially normal to the length ofsaid frame.
 41. A method of logging comprising: a. maneuvering a vehiclehaving processing units and an off-feed conveyor mounted thereon into anarea of felled trees; b. rotating the processing units and off-feedconveyor assembly about respective vertical axes to position the samefor handling of trees located in proximity of the vehicle; c. feedingsaid trees in successive relation to the processing units mounted onsaid vehicle; d. processing said trees in said successive relation; e.discharging the processed trees from the last of the processing units inthe form of whole logs having discrete lengths; and f. conveying saidlogs successively from said machine and depositing the same in stackedrelation at a selected location removed from said machine.
 42. A methodas defined in claim 41 including the step of continuously moving a treealong a selected path during processing thereof.
 43. A method ofprocessing trees comprising: a. positioning a processing plant havingone or more processing units and an off-feed conveyor thereon and aconcentration of full trees in a selected relative position with respectto one another; b. rotating the processing units and off-feed conveyorassembly about respective vertical axes to position the same forhandling of trees located in proximity of the vehicle; c. extending aboom and grapple outwardly from said processing plant; d. selecting andgrasping an individual tree in said concentration of trees; e.retracting said boom and grapple along with the tree in a directiontoward the processing plant; f. introducing the tree to a processingunit of said plant; g. processing said tree and discharging the samefrom the last of the processing units in the form of whole logs havingdiscrete lengths; and h. conveying and stacking said logs in parallelrelationship with respect to one another at a position removed from saidmachine.